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. 2013 May;23(5):618-30.
doi: 10.1177/1049732312470872. Epub 2012 Dec 20.

Health and wellness photovoice project: engaging consumers with serious mental illness in health care interventions

Leopoldo J Cabassa  1 , Angela Parcesepe, Andel Nicasio, Ellen Baxter, Sam Tsemberis, Roberto Lewis-Fernández
Affiliations

Health and wellness photovoice project: engaging consumers with serious mental illness in health care interventions

Leopoldo J Cabassa et al. Qual Health Res. 2013 May.

Abstract

People with serious mental illnesses (SMI) are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease and premature mortality. We used photovoice in two supportive housing agencies to engage consumers with SMI to inform the implementation of health care interventions. Sixteen consumers participated in six weekly sessions in which they took photographs about their health and discussed the meanings of these photographs in individual interviews and group sessions. We identified several implementation themes related to consumers' preferences. Peer-based approaches were preferred more than clinician-driven models. Participants expressed a desire to learn practical skills through hands-on activities to modify health behaviors. Consumers expressed a desire to increase their physical activity. Participants revealed in their photographs and narratives the important role that communities' food environments play in shaping eating habits. In this article, we show how photovoice can generate valuable community knowledge to inform the translation of health care interventions in supportive housing agencies.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflict of Interests

The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A collage of healthy foods
Figure 2
Figure 2
For your health and self-defense
Figure 3
Figure 3
My old self back
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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